Auditioning for a band is a chance to seize an opportunity quickly and decisively. If a band is holding auditions, that means there’s a position to fill and probably soon. If it’s someone you want to work with, auditioning can be the chance to convince them that you’re the perfect fit. Once you get an audition time, you can raise your chances of being the one the band chooses by dealing with the factors that you can control, as there are many that you can’t. Here are some tips to help you give your best audition and leave the band with a great overall impression of you.
Before You Get There
Even before you get an audition, be realistic about your abilities by making sure you’re able to perform the band’s music on their level. This may seem like common sense, but actually performing with a band under pressure is a completely different experience than playing at home with tracks. You need to be totally comfortable with the material to perform it. Establish that, then use your contacts to schedule an audition.
Know the material — Know as much about the band stylistically, including their history, influences, and other people they’ve worked with.
Over-prepare — If the band gives you five songs from their live show to learn, learn those and find more. Look online for set-lists or fan videos from live shows if nothing is commercially available. A bassist I auditioned once did this and it turned out to be the deciding factor in hiring him.
Go see the band perform live, if possible — You’ll have a better idea of what exactly is expected of you as a member, especially onstage. Being at the show is a totally different dynamic than watching a pre-recorded live concert online.
Look the part — You’re auditioning as a performer and part of the whole image presentation. Don’t over-do it, just know the vibe.
Have your gear together — Make sure all of your gear is in working order and organized. Nothing screams “amateur” like fumbling around with your equipment. Take care of noisy or intermittent switches, faulty cables, pedals that need to be kicked, guitars that won’t tune, stands collapsing, etc. Be familiar with your equipment so you don’t have any unexpected sound surprises from accidentally hitting the wrong button. Bring appropriate gear for the audition that you’re comfortable with.
Find out if anything will be supplied at the audition: amps, drums, mics, etc. If so, bring what you need to augment that and don’t bring anything more than what you need for the audition. The band is on a schedule and having too much gear to set up and tear down wastes time.
Once You Get There
I’ve been on both sides of the audition process in many different scenarios. Original bands, cover bands, sideman positions; from start-up to well-established and unknowns to superstars, every audition has its own dynamic, which is a by-product of the people involved. Keep your eyes and ears open and read the vibe in the room.
Check your ego — Be early but not too anxious, Be courteous and respectful, say “thanks,” and basically follow the Golden Rule; nobody wants to work with a tool. Remember that even if you don’t get the gig, you may meet or play with someone who will recommend you for another gig or audition.
Prepare for nerves — Concentrate, slow down, and focus on the task at hand so you can do your best and not get distracted or overwhelmed. Anyone connected with the band may be part of the audition process: artist, manager, booking agent, record label, producer, press, family, friends, etc. The band may also want to record audio or video of your audition for referencing or to play for people who can’t be at the audition.
Think on your feet — You may be asked to read or write a chart, quickly learn a song, jam on an unfamiliar tune, or re-invent a song you do know. Be ready for some surprises, too. A well-known country group I auditioned for happened to be fans of Little Feat and the Neville Brothers, so we jammed on a couple of their tunes in the audition.
Be able to co-operate — Being involved in a band is a constant negotiation. No matter what your level of commitment is, one weekend a month or full-time career, you will have to overcome obstacles — that’s just dealing with people. Everything from a simple miscommunication, vehicle breakdown, or a less-than-perfect gig scenario is possible and how you handle these situations along with constant change and adversity directly affects the whole band. If they do any traveling, you’re onstage a couple hours a night and the rest of the time you’re hangin’. That could be on a bus, in a van, at the airport, in private jet, in a hotel room, or backstage. If you can’t be co-operative on something as short as an audition, you’ll never make it long-term and the people auditioning you will spot that instantly.
Know your position — Will you be an equal member of the band or backing up an artist? Do they want you in the background or out front? If you’re backing up an artist, they may want you to stay in the background until you have a vocal or instrumental solo. Being in a band may require sharing the spotlight, depending on your role and the band’s whole presentation.
Be honest — Don’t say you know how to play bouzouki if you only know two chords. You may be asked to play and end up looking incompetent. Be up front and tell the band you only know a little but could learn whatever parts they need you to play. That way, they know they can trust you.
The Other Side of the Fence
Of course, being the one auditioning is stressful, but the other side of the process has its own obstacles. If your band is under any sort of deadline, finding the right person quickly becomes that much more important and stressful. If you’re a band leader or musical director for an artist or company, your job becomes filling the vacant position effectively and efficiently. If you’re the one auditioning for that position, being professional, easy to work with, and generally affable makes it that much easier on the people doing the hiring. It will also leave them with a better overall impression of you, which might be the edge that gets you hired.